Nissan may build Leaf EVs, or the Fengshen E30, in China

Nissan may build a version of its Leaf electric vehicle in the Chinese province of Guangdong, where BYD, maker of the all-electric e6, is located, Bloomberg News says, citing China's National Development and Reform Commission.

Nissan would partner with Dongfeng Motor Group to build a $322-million plant that would be used to make the EV, called the Fengshen E30. Nissan declined comment to Bloomberg, but whether Nissan builds the Leaf in China or not, the country is looking to boost EV production in Guangdong, which is near Hong Kong. China wants to ramp Guangdong's alt-fuel vehicle production up from 7,000 units in 2011 to as many as 200,000 in 2015. About a quarter of those vehicles would be Leafs, according to Bloomberg.

The Japanese automaker recently shook up management of its EV sales and operations in an effort to increase Leaf sales, putting Chief Financial Officer Hideaki Watanabe in charge of electric vehicle operations.